Pharmacy Technician Salary in Houston, TX
Pharmacy Technicians in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $46,400 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,462 take-home, or $3,289 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,388
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,877
- Medicare (1.45%)$673
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,462
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,430 | $17.03 | $30,648 | $2,554 |
| 25th percentile | $37,740 | $18.14 | $32,504 | $2,709 |
| Median (50th) | $46,400 | $22.31 | $39,462 | $3,289 |
| 75th percentile | $49,570 | $23.83 | $42,009 | $3,501 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,120 | $29.38 | $51,290 | $4,274 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,400 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $39,462 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,011 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pharmacy Technician jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #12 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,320 | $51,451 | $46,296 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $58,470 | $46,843 | $43,914 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $58,590 | $44,960 | $42,648 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $47,050 | $39,985 | $42,215 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $60,550 | $48,362 | $41,831 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $47,010 | $39,953 | $40,740 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $45,950 | $39,101 | $40,587 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,360 | $37,432 | $40,448 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $46,400 | $39,462 | $40,011 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: pharmacy technicians
Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Pharmacy Technician salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $47,050
- Austin, TX — $47,010
- Dallas, TX — $46,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Houston, TX?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $46,400 a year, or about $22.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,740 and $49,570.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $46,400 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $39,462 a year ($3,289 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,011 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #12 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Physical Therapist — $107,700
- Dental Hygienist — $104,930
- Occupational Therapist — $103,580
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,400
- Registered Nurse — $99,830
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,780
- Respiratory Therapist — $80,450
- Surgical Technologist — $71,050